Grip for traction-cables



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. SMITH.

GRIPFORTRAOTIONOABLBS. N0. 371,103. Patented Oct. 4, 1887.

lllilliilll WITNEEEE I "INVENTEJH N. PETERS. P m

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. SMITH.

GRIP FOR TRACTION GABLES.

110.371.1015. Patented 001:. 4,1887

INVENTUH flyvo N. PETERS HMWL'RMIYW. Walhiflgion. D. C.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. SMITH.

GRIP FOR TRACTION GABLES.

(-No Model.)

No. 371,103. I Patented 0011.4,1887.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. SMITH.

GRIP FOR TRACTION ABLES. No. 371,108. Patented Oct. 4, 1887.

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EUGENE SMITH, OF PHILA PATENT OFFICE.

DE'LPI-HA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRIP FOR TRACTION-CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed January 11, 18:

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE SMITH, a oitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grips forTraction-Cables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 an end view, partly in section, of the grip and its operating mechanism; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the grip;and Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, detail views of portions of the grip and its operating mechanism.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved form of grip for traction-ca bles; and myimprovements consist in the peculiar construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a block or plate designed and adapted to be firmly and rigidly secured to the bottom or sills of a car, and which affords a hearing and guide for a vertically movable hanger or bar, B.

0 represents a bar or rod which fits and has liberty of vertical movement in the plate 13. This rod is slotted longitudinally at d for the passage of a bolt, (Z which is inserted in the block or plate A, and in order that the rod may have liberty of movement within a 11in ited distance independently of the plate B. On the lower end of plate B are two end pieces, D, secured in position, one at each edge of said plate, by a bolt and nut, d d, and which afford bearings for the gripping-jaws E E. Said jaws are designed and adapted to be clamped on the cable F, and they carry contacting pulleys or rollers f f, two at each end and two in the middle; Thejaws E E are fulcrumed atf f in the pieces D D, their upper extremities being connected by toggle-levers G G. I prefer to employ two sets of toggle- The sliding ban levers to connect the jaws. 0r rod 0 has its lower end pivotally connected with the central joints or knuckles, g, of the toggle-levers G, so that when said bar 0 is lifted or drawn upwardly, sliding in the hanger Patent No. 371,103, dated October 4, 1887.

7. Serial No. 224,01. (X0 model.)

or plate B, the jaws E B will be clamped upon or will grip the cable F, and when said bar 0 is moved downwardly in the hanger the jaws will be opened free of the cable.

end of the hanger B, and having a slot or opening, it, through which the toggle-levers work. It forms a guide for said levers, and, as its lower edge is wedgeshaped, it assists in opening or spreading the jaws. The act of closing the jaws is effected by an upward pull of the rod or bar 0, and their opening by a downward thrust or movement of said rod or bar. To raise the jaws bodily (in order to pass a crossing cable) after they have released their grip on their own cable, and to lower them again into position for gripping and then lift them while the grip is on, the following con strnction is provided.

The block or plate A is formed with a vertical groove or channel, a, in which the bar or hanger B slides, and in the sides or edges of this plate,openinginto the channel a, are form ed mortises or recesses a, adapted to receive and permit play and movement of the horizontal bars or slides 12 b. In the inner surface of the plate or block Athat is, at the base of the channel ais formed another and narrower channel, a, which is divided at its upper portion into two channels, a d", by a frog, I), having an angular or V shaped end with sides parallel with the-oblique portions of the chair nels a.

The bar or hanger B carries near its upper end atransverse slot, B, divided into two parts by the slot B in said hanger, and at a short distance above said cleat the hanger B is re-enforced or shouldered, as shown at B thus forming a channel or guide for said slides Z) Z). As the hanger B is raised and lowered, it moves the slides I1 I), which rest on the oleat B, as shown in Fig. 5. The slides b I) carry on their inner ends the diamond-shaped camblocks Z)", adapted in size and shape to slide into the channels a into which they are thrust when brought into contact with the frog b',at such time allowing the bar or rod 0 to rise between them. Then the hanger B is at its lowest point of depression and the jaws of the grip are open, as will be the case, the slides b I) are in contact at their inner ends, being H is an extensionpiece bolted to the lower IOO . beveled extremities of the slides.

moved into such position by the inclines c c at the base of the mortises a acting on the At the same time the bar 0 is also at its lowest position, with its upper end below the blocks 1)". Now, in raising the grip the first motion is to lift the bar 0 independently of the hanger B, so as to sufficiently close the jaws upon the cable to enable the latter to be lifted from the pulleys. As soon as this is effected, the bar 0, (or the slotted block C thereon,) coming in contact with the slides Z) 1), causes the hanger B to be raised, thus raising the jaws and inclosed cable until the blocks 1) come in contact with the frog 1). The slides b are then moved outwardly, theblocks b entering the channels a and the extremities of the slides entering the mortises a, and by the time the slides are sufficiently separated to permit of a further independent movement of the bar 0 the grip will have been lifted as high as may be necessary. A further movement of the bar 0 serves to tightenthe jaws upon the cable. The upward movement of the bar 0 is limited by a shoulder or recess at h.

The object of the slotted block 0, which is attached to the upper end of the bar 0, is to allow the latter sufficient play after tightening the grip for the release and regaining of a purchase on the cable.

The plate A and included portions of the grip lifting and operating devices are covered by a cap or plate, A, bolted to the plate A. The plate A is slotted at A to allow play for the connecting-pin A to which is coupled the bell-crank H by a connecting-link, H. The crank H is fulcrumed to the plate A and operated by a suitable lever.

Referring again to thejaws, it may bestated that the object of the pulleys f is to lessen friction on the shoes F, which are preferably removable from the jaws for repair and replacement.

Among the many advantages incident to the form of grip described, it may be mentioned that the parts are smaller, lighter, and less cumbersome and expensive than others in general use. The movement of the grip or jaw closing bar to close thejaws is a pull, instead of adownward thrust, and hence need not be so large or so strong as those required in other grips.

The jaws open below and reversely to those in common use, and hence may be lowered and applied to the cable at any point,while, should any obstruction occur, as by the loosening of strands or the like, the cable may be instantly dropped and taken up again when the obstruction is passed.

Vhat I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. In a cable-grip, the combination,with the lifting hanger or slide and a jaw-supporting frame secured to the lower end thereof and comprising the end pieces, D, and the bolts d, of the jaws E, pivotally supported upon the bolts (Z (Z between their upper and lower edges or extremities, the vertically-moving slide 0, and the toggles G G, connected at their upper and outer ends to the upper extremities of the jaws and at their inner and lower ends connected to the slide O,substantially as described, whereby an upward independent movement of the slide 0 will cause the jaws to close upon the cable.

2. In a cable-grip, the combination,with the gripping-jaws, the supporting-hanger, and a bar for opening and closing said jaws, of mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the cable is first caught, then raised, and finally grasped and held, substantially as described.

3. In a cable-grip, the combination, with the gripping -jaws, of the movable supporting hanger and lifter B, jaw opening and closing bar 0, slides b b, blocks b", channels a a, and frog 1), substantially as described.

4. In a cable-grip, the combination, with the jaw-supporting hanger and the frame attached thereto, to which the jaws are pivoted, of the jaws pivotally connected to said frame between their upper and lower edges, the verticallymoving slide for closing and opening the jaws, and a pair of toggles connected to the upper edges of the jaws above their point of attachment to the hanger and coupled together and to the slide below the point of connection of the toggles to upper edge of the jaws, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cable-grip, the combinationgvith the gripping-jaws, of antifriction rollers located in recesses in the upper parts of the jaws, and the detachable jaw-shoes supported upon the shafts of the anti-friction rollers, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of January, 1887.

EUGENE SMITH. \Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. PAXSON, WILL H. PowELL. 

